The Kingston Area Youth Foundation draws its inspiration from role models like reggae star Bob Marley, who with the Wailers released the classic Fussing and Fighting exactly 30 years ago. The track was a plea for an end to the violence plaguing impoverished Jamaican shanty towns such as Trench Town.

Intimidation, brutality and killing continue to despoil Kingston. But the foundation's organisers believe they have begun "a peaceful rebellion to overthrow crime and violence", through theatre, dance, music and poetry.

Sheila Graham, who has a 20-year background in Jamaican theatre, is supported by Winston Bell and Owen Ellis - who are better known on the island as Bello and Blacker, a popular comedy duo.

The essence of their approach is to tap the creative ability they believe lies latent in young people, however limited their formal education. "Everything they perform on stage has been pulled out of them," says Graham. "They've created it; we've simply honed it into an artistic product."